YAKIMA – It got hairier than coach Brooks Archer would’ve liked, but the eighth-ranked West Valley baseball team remained unbeaten early Tuesday evening.

On the verge of 10-run ruling visiting Eastmont, the Rams held on for a 9-6 victory to improve to 7-0 overall and 4-0 in CBBN.

West Valley heads to Eastmont on Friday for a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m. The Wildcats entered Tuesday’s game 6-0 in conference play tied with Moses Lake, which is idle this week.

The Rams had played three less games than the two front-runners entering Tuesday, but are the league favorite after running through CBBN undefeated last season, and have now won their last 22 straight conference regular-season games.

With junior ace Rhyse Elder, the reigning CBBN Pitcher of the Year, on the mound, and the offense jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first, and adding four runs in the third and three in the fourth, West Valley was on the cusp of ending this one early.

“He has really good stuff,” Archer said. “He’s just an awesome competitor and that’s one of the biggest things, if not the most important thing.”

Just once this season had a team gotten to the right-hander, and that was Kennewick, second-ranked in Class 3A after a runner-up finish at state in 2025.

Elder’s dominance continued Tuesday, as he didn’t give up a hit until the fifth inning. He finished with seven strikeouts and walked two, lowering his earned-run average to 2.08.

Third baseman Colby Graham led the Rams’ 10-hit outburst with three hits, including a pair of doubles, and scored three runs.

Drayden Birley was 2 for 3 with 2 RBI, Alex Morales had two hits and knocked in a run, and Colton Worley and Brody Roinestad each singles and drove in two runs.

“It was good to put it all together,” Archer said. “The balls we were hitting all over the field.”

West Valley also scored a run on Karter Huwe’s drag bunt.

With the 9-0 lead, and Elder approaching the pitch limit to be available Friday, Archer went to his bullpen.

The Wildcats were able to get to the Rams, scoring five runs in the top of the sixth on five hits and a West Valley error and a couple wild pitches.

“It got a little nerve-wracking there,” the second-year coach said.

With their week off behind them, the Rams will play three CBBN games in each of the next five, including three against Moses Lake – one up north April 28, and two at West Valley on May 1.

“It’s going to be a fun next month,” Archer said.